AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Charles C. Napier for heroism while participating in aerial flight as HH-60G Aircraft Commander of Pedro 62, 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, 651st Air Expeditionary Group, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan near Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan on 10 December 2012. On that date, Captain Napier launched with his flight lead, Pedro 61, on a high risk mission to rescue four critically wounded coalition Soldiers following an insurgent attack with small arms fire and an Improvised Explosive Device in a village west of Kandahar. Upon arrival at the evacuation site, he executed a challenging restricted visibility approach into a heavily rutted field to insert his Guardian Angel Team. During landing, his aircraft immediately came under enemy small arms fire from a concealed compound 75 meters away. Following insertion of the Guardian Angel Team, Captain Napier skillfully maneuvered his aircraft into firing positions numerous times. On one weapons pass he flew within 60 feet of the enemy shielding friendly forces from aimed, effective fire. His aircraft engaged the enemy and simultaneously marked the enemy position, enabling a formation of two United States Army attack helicopters to positively identify and suppress one of the enemy positions. Captain Napier courageously flew into the hot landing zone a second time to extract three of the wounded, as well as three Guardian Angel Team members. As Aircraft Commander, he directed his crew as they continued to provide suppressive fire during the formation's egress from the objective. His decisive actions and tactical skill allowed the evacuation of critically wounded coalition Soldiers from the battlefield. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Napier reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force